JackJumper eyes redemption after injury setback

While the Tasmania JackJumpers have added some new faces ahead of NBL27, their returning local core remains one of the strongest in the competition, and now import David Johnson has re-signed to be part of it once again.

“It was an easy decision to go back,” he said on NBL Now.

“It is a familiar team and familiar faces. In my first year overseas, that familiarity is important.

“It is a place where I feel I can grow and win, and take my game to the next level.”

The 24-year-old made an immediate impact upon arriving in the NBL, posting 22 points and 10 rebounds in his debut game for the JackJumpers.

“I felt prepared coming into the year. That first game was a glimpse of what I can do consistently,” he added.

“I was ready to build on that with the team, and we were excited, but things happen and you have to deal with the cards you are dealt.”

That impressive start to his overseas professional career came to a sudden halt in his second game when Johnson suffered a calf injury that sidelined him for two months.

“It was tough. When you are injured, you can feel isolated and spend a lot of time in your own thoughts. I felt that at times,” he said.

“But with the JackJumpers, we are around each other a lot. That camaraderie helped. Seeing teammates working hard on the court pushed me to do the same in rehab and conditioning.”

The former NBA second-round pick put the setback behind him and returned to help lead the JackJumpers to an unlikely Play-In berth, despite season-ending injuries to several key players around him.

Now, he's back to do it all again.